Dryer for lingerie or the like



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, "1957 INVENTOR. ELM/000 a. A/CHEB 1 0d. 25, 1960 AlCHER 2,957,586

DRYER FOR LINGERIE OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 16. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR. EL W000 5. A/Cf/EE A 7 TOEA/E/s 2,957,586 Patented Oct. v25, 1960 DRYER FOR LINGERIE OR THE LIKE Elwood B. Aicher, 117 Crabapple Road, Manhasset, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 684,397

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-89) This invention relates to dryers, and more particularly to a small lightweight dryer for lingerie or the like, said dryer being compact and readily pocketable, and therefore suitable for travellers.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve dryers, particularly for use in a bathroom, and especially one intended'for use by travellers, tourists, or vacationers. A more particular object is to provide'a dryer which islight in weight, and so compact that it is readily pocketable, and takes little room in a handbag or luggage. A further object is toprovide a dryer which is usable without requiring tools or hardware, and wherever-there are smooth surfaces such as tile, glass, flat metal fixtures, or flat enamel surfaces.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my

invention resides in the dryer elements and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the dryer in use;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the dryer in contracted position;

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2, and drawn to enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one end of the dryer in bent position;

Fig. 5 shows the dryer folded;

Figs. 6 and 7 show the change in length of the dryer between its contracted and extended conditions; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the clips.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 2, the dryer comprises a long helical spring 12 of small diameter, with a rubber suction cup 14 secured at one end, and another suction cup 16 secured at the other end. There are a plurality of spring operated clips 20 on the spring 12. Preferably there are also a plurality of flexible plastic sleeves 22 slid over the spring 12 on each side of the clips 20.

Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawing, in the present case, there are six clips 20 and seven sleeves 22, and they substantially fill the length of the spring when the spring is in contracted position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. However, the spring is extensible to double or more its contracted length, as shown in Fig. 7. In the specific case here shown, the initial length is about two feet, and the extended length is about five feet, but of course the device may be used at lesser length, say three feet or four feet, if more convenient. It is preferably not extended significantly beyond five feet in order not to exceed the elastic limit, so that it always returns to initial length.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 8, the spring operated clips 20 are a standard product already available in commerce. Those here used are preferably made up of two jaws 24, 26, each molded of plastics material, and secured together and urged to closed position by a helical- 1y coiled spring 28. This is preferably plated with cadmium or other metal to discourage rust. The clips here used are miniature in dimension, having an overall length of only about one and a quarter inches.

The long spring 12 is preferably made of light music wire, and is extensible with little force. It is made of a 0.095 gauge music wire, that is, the diameter of the coil is less than one-tenth inch in diameter.

The rubber suction cups 14 and 16 may have a diameter of, say one and a quarter inches.

The plastic sleeves 22 are preferably made'of tubular polyethylene, although other thin walled flexible plastics material may be used. They are about three inches long.

Referring ,now to Fig. l of the drawing, to set up the dryerfor use, it is merely necessary to press one suction cup on :a smooth wall or pane of glass or the like, and to then stretch the line and press the other ,minimum separation, should the line sag. However, the

line is intended for only light-weight articles such as ladies lingerie, stockings, handkerchiefs or the like. The spacers have-the further. advantage that stockings may ,bedraped over'the. spacers between-the clips, while the clips are used for other clothes.

When the device is not in use, it is readily folded with an accordion fold, as shown in Fig. 5, the spacers tending to remain straight, and thus establish uniform folds. In this condition, the device is only about four and a half inches long and three inches wide, but in practice, the folds may be bunched together instead of being spread out flat as shown, and then the width is only about one and a half inches.

The sleeves guard against any possibility of the long spring tangling, or of some coils of the spring locking with others.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the suction cup 14 has a blind hole 30 which snugly receives the adjacent end 32 of the end spacer or sleeve 22. This has the advantage of insuring a relatively gradual bend at 34, in the event that the dryer extends in a direction away from a perpendicular to the wall 36. This is true when the dryer is at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1. It is also advantageous when it is necessary to apply both suction cups to a single flat wall, for in such case, the gradual bend at 34 insures adequate spacing between the Wire and the wall 36.

The long spring 12 is secured to the suction cup 14 by means of a pin 40 (Fig. 4). This may be a nail which is driven diametrically of the suction cup through the end of the spring, following which the opposite end of the pin is cut off while compressing the rubber of the suction cup. The result of this is that after the cutting operation, the rubber spreads over the cut end 42 of pin 40 and conceals it.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the helical spring 28 of the spring clip 20 is larger in diameter than the long spring 12, and is threaded on and is readily slidable along the spring 12. The clips 20 are preferably threaded on spring 12 with the helices in reversed relation so that the strands of spring 28 slope in opposite direction to the strand of spring 12. This is not essential, because the springs also dilfer greatly in pitch. It therefore follows that there is no danger of the springs becoming enmeshed.

It is believed that the construction and method of assembly and use of my improved dryer, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The suction cups afford a quick and simple fastening means, without tools, or hardware, Wherever there are smooth surfaces available, as in a typical bathroom. The dryer will not tangle when folded into a small accordion fold, and because the music wire spring tends to straighten when released, and because the plastics sleeves also tend to straighten, the device instantly spreads out ready for use. However, when folded, it is exceedingly compact and occupies little room in luggage. It may be carried in a handbag, or even pocketed. The parts are preferably made of rust resistant materials. The spring is extensible over a wide range of lengths to accommodate the variable conditions encountered when travelling. The sleeves have many advantages, such as guiding the accordion fold, preventing tangling of the spring mesh, forming a smooth rustproof surface over which silk or nylon stockings may be draped, insuring minimum spacing between spring clips, and insuring a gradual bend at the suction cups when used in angular relation. The entire dryer is miniature in dimension, and may be given appropriate pastel colors for the plastics clips, and flexible tubes, thus making the device dainty and attractive in appearance. The spring clips may be ornamented with rhinestones, as indicated most clearly at 50 in Fig. 5.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure shown, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dryer for lingerie or the like, prising a long helical spring of small diameter,

said dryer coma rubber suction cup secured at each end of the spring, a plurality of spring operated clips on said spring, and a plurality of flexible plastics sleeves slid over said spring on each side of said clips, each suction cup having a hub with a blind hole of substantial depth, and the adjacent end of the adjacent flexible plastics sleeve being received in said hole, whereby said sleeve is bent on a curve when the line is extended in the direction of a wall receiving the suction cup, thereby spacing the line from the wall.

2. A dryer for lingerie or the like, said dryer comprising a long helical spring of small diameter, a rubber suction cup secured at each end of the spring, a plurality of spring operataed clips on said spring, and a plurality of flexible plastics sleeves slid over said spring on each side of said clips, said sleeves and clips substantially filling the length of the spring when the spring is contracted, each suction cup having a hub with a blind hole of substantial depth, and the adjacent end of the adjacent flexible plastics sleeve being received in said hole, whereby said sleeve is bent on a curve when the line is extended in the direction of a wall receiving the suction cup, thereby spacing the line from the wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,020 Black Feb. 23, 1926 1,774,742 Ash Sept. 2, 1930 1,793,790 Fowler Feb. 24, 1931 2,367,996 Clark J an. 23, 1945 2,800,696 Aicher July 30, 1957 2,804,247 Gallagher Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 460,094 Great Britain Jan. 20, 1937 467,372 Great Britain June 16, 1937 

